Historic dairy farm near Shrewsbury holds auction day as it closes for good.

Name: Historic dairy farm near Shrewsbury holds auction day as it closes for good.
Uploaded: 2024-09-13T21:23:21+00:00
Duration: 12 min 39 s
Channel: Shropshire Star
Description: A farm that has been in the family for many years has been sold off and Halls were on hand today to auction off items such as tractors, milking machines and the odd bit of goods.

Shropshire Star

13/09/2024

A farm that has been in the family for many years has been sold off and Halls were on hand today to auction off items such as tractors, milking machines and the odd bit of goods.

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00:00Alan, hello sir, how are you? Fine, thank you very much.

00:03You're our main man from Halls? I'm the chairman of Halls, yes, for my sins.

00:07For your sins. And we're down here, just fill us in on what's happening today here then Alan, where we are.

00:11Andrew and Roger, his brother, have sold the farm and they're moving, so they've

00:17sold all the cows, the milking herd, and they are now just going to sell off all

00:23the machinery because they don't need most of this for where they're going and

00:25we'll start at 12 o'clock, the local farmers and farmers from further afield

00:30will come and hopefully give them a good send-off. Do you have people travelling

00:34from some distance for these kind of events? Yeah, yeah we do, and we also have this

00:39Martye system that we're on, a bidding platform, so people from Ireland will

00:44probably be bidding on items and Poland and whatever, we have a big mailing list

00:49of people who will sit in and look at the sale on the bidding platform if

00:52they can't make the dirt journey. So how many times a year would you have

00:55an auction of this type then on a farm? We have them fairly often and we

01:01have regular machinery sales at our market in Shrewsbury, bi-monthly, and we

01:06have them in Kidderminster every month as well, and then we've probably had six

01:11or seven in the last month really. And will it be the case that by the end of

01:15the auction everything will be sold or not necessarily? Yeah, everything will be

01:18sold and then, because Andrew and Roger are moving and will be moving in October

01:22so they won't want to have all these things around. So it's amazing that by

01:28tomorrow morning, lunchtime, most things will be gone.

01:33The Bebb Brothers, how are you lads? Fine, thank you, yes. So we're here today, auction day, big day

01:41for you guys isn't it really? Huge. Yeah, yeah, I mean the farm behind you, that was

01:46the family farm? Yes. So am I right in thinking the building side of

01:50things, that's been sold hasn't it? Yes. Well you're still in the

01:54process of selling it, just a matter of exchanging contracts now, which

01:58are possibly about a week away. Got you. Do you know what will happen with that?

02:01Will there be barn conversions or what the plans are? No, no.

02:06So talk us through it then, how long's the family been farming here? Since 1917.

02:111917, well you weren't a kid back then were you? Not quite. But you've grown up here?

02:18Yeah, yeah, yeah, all my life doing the farming. So what's it been like over the

02:23years, you know, when you think back, a lot of good memories, I mean it

02:27must be an adventurous life for kids growing up on a farm. Yeah, what we're greatly

02:31indebted to is having wonderful, generous and helpful neighbours as well,

02:36farming neighbours, they've been amazing over the years, helped us in

02:41difficult times and enjoyed the good times together as well. What's been the

02:47trickiest time, the low point would you say, over the years, back you know?

02:51I think TB. Yeah, it's been a real challenge. Do you ever see a light at the end of the

03:00tunnel when you're in those kind of phases? I suppose you have to learn to be that type of person when you're a farmer, don't you?

03:10You have to be positive, you have to have a positive outlook on life, yes.

03:15You have to learn to adapt as well, and change your policies and actions according to what's happening,

03:22whether in politics or more recently the weather, the changes in the weather.

03:28That's very true, yeah, so as a farmer I guess you really notice that, don't you?

03:32You know, the way crops and stiffen, it really is changing isn't it? You know,

03:36we hear gardeners talking about it, and you've noticed that yourselves.

03:40So we notice the rainfall, watch that closely, watch the temperatures, whether it's going to be frosty,

03:47or if it's a sunny day we can do some harvesting, so it's all dependent on the weather and politics really.

03:56So it's come to that time, you know, the farming's no more, so what was it that kind of, you know,

04:02you made a big decision and you thought, we've done our bit, was there no new bloodline to take it on,

04:07or is the industry changed and it's too hard, what's your thoughts?

04:11Hi Colin, yeah well Roger's got no kids, I've got three daughters and none of them are interested,

04:16so we're both pensioners now, so it's time to just, I'm downsizing, I'm not retiring, we bought a farm up north.

04:24Oh so you're still farming, you'll still be a farming man then?

04:26Yeah, whereabouts up north roughly then?

04:28Thirsk.

04:29Yeah, yeah, so is that just because that's where the opportunity took you?

04:33Yeah, yeah, yeah, well it's just the right farm and the right location and yeah, so yeah we're going for it up there.

04:40Yeah, what about yourself, is this the end of you as a farmer?

04:43Well I'm doing some charity work in Shrewsbury and moving to Shrewsbury.

04:49I lead a debt advice centre at Barnabas Community Projects.

04:54Oh yeah, we've been there yet.

04:57Great stuff, so it must be emotional, I mean were you kind of accepting of it?

05:02Did you know there wasn't going to be any new bloodline?

05:04Are you here today gutted that there wasn't some sons taking it on or is it just, is that the way it is sort of thing?

05:10A relief in a way, yes, a relief in a way because I've got something to look forward to.

05:17Yeah, time for a change, time for a change really.

05:19What can you tell us about the changes you've seen in the industry then?

05:23Is it harder to make a crust kind of these days than it was?

05:27It's difficult for smaller farmers like we are to make a living.

05:33The industry is growing very large and hundreds of cattle rather than tens of cattle,

05:44so it's much harder to make a living with smaller numbers really.

05:49I was told that actually, someone said actually there's probably more dairy farming in Shropshire than there's ever been,

05:53but less farms, you know what I mean, because it's at all that bigger scale and the machinery.

05:58It's the way of the world unfortunately, I mean there were 360,000 milk producers in the UK back in the day,

06:05but we're down to about 7,000 now.

06:07That's crazy isn't it really when you think about it like that.

06:10So over the years, 25 years ago we decided to go organic,

06:15to get out of the constant price pressure that we were facing with the lower and lower milk prices.

06:23So becoming organic, it was a niche market and it still is a niche market.

06:27Did that work for you then, that was a good move at the time?

06:30It did because it's what we enjoy doing, looking after the animals, looking after the soil, which is really important.

06:39Yeah, so it's been positive and it's what I've enjoyed doing.

06:45One thing I wanted to say is that at this point last week we had to sell the cows,

06:50they were all destined to go straight to the slaughterhouse.

06:53Unfortunately at the 11th hour, a buyer came in and he sold all the cows.

07:00All of them, how many was that then?

07:02It was about 95 head I think, 90 head.

07:05So that's a bit of a logistics move in that many.

07:09So where have they gone off to then?

07:11They're going to a guy at Landrinio, so they're not going too far away.

07:15Oh fantastic, well that was nice then wasn't it?

07:18It was great, it was great.

07:22We weren't sitting comfortably with the fact that we're closed down with TV

07:25and you're limited as to what you can do with the stock

07:27and the only option was they had to go to the slaughterhouse after four buyers pulled out.

07:32So we were very, very lucky that the 11th hour to find a buyer that was willing to take the stock home.

07:37So we're very grateful for him.

07:40So the buildings are gone, by the end of today the equipment will be gone.

07:44So will you be a shed of tea and a tipple later on down the pub

07:51or is it you're too busy at the minute to even think?

07:54Yeah, well my wife's still got stock 12 miles away so I'll be down there helping her.

07:58So you're straight back into the thick of it, it never ends does it?

08:02We've still got a number of cows so I'm going to milk them tomorrow morning,

08:08dry them all off and they're all going to a new farm.

08:12And for the cows it's a new life, it's a change of lifestyle for them.

08:16So they're going to be sucking calves rather than going through the milking parlour

08:21which I'm sure they'll be very happy when you farm.

08:27Yeah.

08:28And was there any competition as brothers when you were farming or was it team effort?

08:34We've done our own thing really, we've got our different areas of expertise

08:39and we've just divided the jobs up and just got on with it.

08:43That's right, we've just had different roles and kept to them really.

08:48And will you be taking a souvenir from here?

08:50I can see there's a sign plaque on the wall here, is there anything you'll be taking?

08:54Some workshop tools that we have.

08:56Yeah, some nice old tools.

08:58Don't forget the welder.

09:00I'm taking some horse shoes.

09:02Oh yeah, how fantastic.

09:04That's not for my lifetime but my father's lifetime.

09:08He loved the horses.

09:10So was it your father that started the farm?

09:12No, grandfather.

09:13Grandfather, what was grandfather's name?

09:15James.

09:17Well, thanks for having us down here at Shropshire Star.

09:22It sounds like you're both going to be just as busy as ever frankly.

09:26Thank you gents.

09:28Cheers lads.

09:29Super.

09:30How you doing Graham, you okay sir?

09:31I'm alright, thank you.

09:32Local farmer yourself?

09:33Yeah, from my action burner.

09:35Cool.

09:36And are you down here looking to buy something?

09:39No, just supporting him a bit.

09:42Does it make you reflect on your own farming life when you see a family farm of so many years kind of going?

09:48Yeah, it's a bit sad, isn't it?

09:50Yeah, yeah.

09:51How is it your end in the industry?

09:53What's your take on it?

09:54Doing alright?

09:55Well, I wouldn't do anything else if I had my time over again.

09:58We'll keep farming until it's all gone.

10:00Yeah, yeah.

10:01Birdoos, until it's all gone.

10:03You'll be that last man standing.

10:05Well, thank you Graham.

10:13You've got your points with you.

10:15Access.

10:16And one other thing.

10:19No access by the house, okay?

10:21If anybody wants to pick anything up off the field, come off the track by the car park or up here through the yard and round.

10:29Over you know please.

10:30All the ladies and gentlemen, if you'd like to come this way.

10:35Right, ladies and gentlemen, lot number one.

10:37Ah, there we go, we've got someone interested in last.

10:39There we are then.

10:40Lot number one.

10:41You've got the 14x14 little arble milking parlour with the cluster flushes, air wash.

10:46There's 14 harmony clusters there with the vacuum pipes and the plate cooler, alright?

10:51That is what you're buying.

10:53The clusters, the vacuum pipe and the plate cooler.

10:56The feeders and the control boxes and augers are a separate lot.

11:01And then you've got the combi pasteuriser in the next room which is also separate as well.

11:05The rubber floor mats are available to be sold as well but they are a different lot.

11:08The first lot though is the clusters, the vacuum pipes and the plate coolers, okay?

11:13So, for the first lot then, where are you going to be for that then?

11:16You tell me.

11:17Put them in for the clusters, the vacuum pipes and the plate coolers there.

11:20Where are you going to be for those then?

11:21A couple of thousand for it?

11:22A thousand? A thousand? A thousand? Eight hundred?

11:24Five will go for the clusters then.

11:25Five hundred? Five? Two?

11:27A hundred pound will go then on the four.

11:29Why isn't this just found the last of tomorrow?

11:31Five hundred? Five hundred?

11:33A hundred pound you're not waiting for it?

11:34A hundred pound? No?

11:35If no, go then ladies and gentlemen.

11:36I think we'll give that a miss.

11:37Right. We now go to then the fourteen, two thousand ...

11:41Five, five, five, five, five, five, five, five.

11:42Show me now then.

11:43Five pound for the clay tyres then.

11:45Five? Out.

11:46Thank you Mr. Keir, five pounds.

11:48As before.

11:49Right. Now then, we go to ...

11:51... the tanker.

11:52Five pounds? Thousands? Eight hundred?

11:53Five will weigh in if you want it.

11:55Five?

11:56Bid, sir?

11:57Bidding?

11:58No, checks, sir, before the trial.

12:00Five will weigh in for it?

12:01Five?

12:02Two is it. I've got two on a bid?

12:03That's two hundred. Two hundred, two hundred.

12:04That's two hundred, two hundred, two hundred, two hundred.

12:062.20, 2.50, 2.80, 3.20, 5.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50, 4.50

12:3680. Mr. Hill at 590.

Historic dairy farm near Shrewsbury holds auction day as it closes for good.

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